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Baldessare, Morosina, Carina, Tizania, and Amanda enjoy a few hands of cards at the Siren's Song.

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It's just a /little/ scandalous, visiting a place like the Siren's Song, even if you never step past the curtain leading into the /actual/ scandal of the house. But this is Matora, and a little scandal rarely hurts as long as it's well-managed, and so the gambling parlor has a fair amount of traffic from the nobility of the city. Baldessare has been at his table for at least enough time for a few hands of cards, although it seems a few of his tablemates have been forced to make their farewells for other business. So he takes a moment, sipping at his brandy as he considers the room.

Gambling? While she may not be long arrived to the city, it is almost certain that shortly after dropping her bags off at the estate, Morosina Capello has been pestering someone about where she can manage to get some gaming done. It's been HOURS, whole HOURS, after all. She sweeps in, still in her traveling clothes, hair falling messily out of the elaborate ribbons some poor lady's maid used to try to keep it respectable. Seeing Baldessare, she sweeps in that direction with confidence.

Even during her off time, Carina keeps a sharp eye about. This time it's for the gambling game, a place where she might lose her ass. Or make some quick money. Always plan for and expect the worst but hope for the best. It was her motto. Taking broad steps in that direction, her cloak isn't present tonight, but she looks comfortable in a regular tunic and pants, the latter of which is tucked into worn black boots. Sliding into a recently vacated seat, she gives a look at the others, her competitors, and offers a nod. "Evenin."

Tizania has Amanda on her arm when they enter. No doubt she's pulled some tantrum or otherwise reminded Amanda of some duty or promise to get the blonde into a place called the Siren's Song. But in they come. Tizzy is dressed in a blood red dress of crushed velvet, with a scandalously low neckline, and tight tight bodice. Black hair is done in a complicated braid and left to hang down her back. "Oh look." says Tizania, as if it were wholly an accident to see Baldessare, "There's the Conte. Shall we go pay our respects?"

Amanda, meanwhile, is in white. She looks as pure and angelic as Tizania doesn't. Perhaps her mere presence can bring virtue to this den of sin? That was likely the intent. Still, her expression is polite enough. A soft smile, no scowls. Not even as she says, "I believe there's a debt owed." She eyes her wife a moment, before she smiles a touch sweeter, and nods. "Oh, look… cousin Morosina… have you ever had the chance?" she asks Tizania, as she lets the other woman lead.

"Signora," Baldessare says to Morosina with an arched brow and the faintest hint of a smirk. "Here to behave yourself? You must have only been in the city all of an hour." His gaze slides beyond her approach to Tizania and Amanda, breath exhaling in something of a resigned sigh before turning his attention to Carina at his table. "Good evening," he says, his gaze taking in the detail of her appearance with a firming jaw.

Despite her confident and somewhat travel-disheveled air, Morosina pauses to execute a perfect curtsey (as far as her traveling skirts will permit, anyway). "Conte, a pleasure to see you out and enjoying yourself." She straightens with a cheeky sort of grin. "Might I join you for a hand or two? It has been FOREVER since I've had a decent hand of cards." Where 'forever' has been redefined as 'this morning'. Carina is given a smile, and then Amanda and Tizania receive another curtsey. "Signoras, a pleasure. Is this where we gather here in the city?" She looks inexpressibly enthusiastic about the thought.

Tizania whispers sotto voce to her wife, "I get the feeling we're causing the Conte some consternation, what a shaaaammmee." Her eyes glint. But then her eyes lift toward Carina and she gives a little dip of her chin to the blonde she is not holding hands with. "Hello, lovely. I am Tizania Capello and this is my wife, Amanda Capello. And it is one of the many gathering places."

"Just looking for a game, not any trouble. I'm on my off time." If a mercenary ever actually has off time. Carina settles back a little in her seat and regards the others at the table, brows arching. "Everyone's here for a game?" Or gambling, is what she seems to mean. The enthusiasm is noted, that from the others, and perhaps she doesn't miss that firming jaw from the only man present. "Carina Asulf." An outsider for sure, but she still carries herself with noble bearing.

Is it Tizania's whispering? Morosina's suggestion? Baldessare's /presence/? It's hard to say, but somewhere along the way, Amanda gives a little shudder. Her eyes lid for a moment, then she draws a breath in, holds it a moment, and lets it out. Serenity now! "Good evening, my darling," Amanda says, to Morosina. "No, this… is not a place we frequent. It is a rarity. It should /remain/ a rarity," says the maggiordomo, a little pointed. That going for Morosina and Baldessare both. She eyes the latter for a moment, then looks back to her wife. "Have you had the pleasure of meeting Tizania?" she asks, that directed at Morosina. Then she looks over to Carina, and offers a smile. "Good evening," she says, her tone warm and inviting. Nevermind that earlier shudder.

"It's not a particular habit of the family at large, no," Baldessare answers Morosina with a somewhat sardonic dryness. "I imagine my wife and sister-in-law here would have quite a lot to say were Antonella to visit, for instance." Nevertheless, he opens his hand to indicate one of several open seats available at the table in invitation. "Conte Baldessare Capello," he introduces himself to Carina, chin lifting a bit. "I imagine Signora Amanda is here to win any of the family's money I might lose. But yes, I do think we're all here for a game."

Morosina blinks, wide-eyed and innocent, at Tizania. "Oh, but of course, Signora. A rarity, yes. After all, I imagine the city has so many wonderful places, I can't imagine I shall revisit too many of them!" It's said with a guileless sort of joy, like a sugar-starved child released into an all-you-can-eat candy store. She beams at Tizania. "I have not had the pleasure. It is a delight, I assure you." And then, she practically throws herself into the chair that Baldessare gestures towards, several more curls tumbling free of their ribbony prison in the process.

Tizania clucks her tongue toward Baldessare and says, "Poor Toni needs some more time out from under the smothering eyes of her sisters. I bet the poor girl hasn't even been kissed yet." A huff is given, how /tragic/.

So many names offered and Carina gives each a look at each as if committing them all to memory. The enthusiasm gains Morosina a bemused look. Carina is already settled in a seat and places her money down, money in which she intends to gamble, win or lose. "A pleasure making your acquaintance, Conte Capella, Signora's." A flicker of her ice colored eyes towards Tizania, she smirks. "Should a lady be belittled for being chaste?" Just a random curiosity of reaction.

"Antonella needs to work on her studies… and stay away from places designed to leech away your coin and your virtue," opines Amanda, with her nose turning just a touch higher. She then turns her gaze to Carina. "No, she should not. These miscreants just like to spread their sinful ways whenever possible," she says, with a little huff. Her gaze turns to Tizania. "Do you wish to sit? I never gamble on things so trivial," she says. "But I will dutifully stand behind you," she offers, the words just a touch stiff.

As Baldessare was the first at the table, he seems to take it upon himself to deal the first hand. He takes the deck of cards to begin shuffling as the others find their seats. "In truth, I think Antonella is more interested in kissing her philosophy books than any living creature," he says carelessly. "The concern for her virtue is perhaps misplaced, considering her apparent lack of interest in shedding it." He eyes Amanda standing behind Tizania, gaze narrowing. "Mind that you don't stand behind anyone /else/ to steal a look at their cards for your wife's benefit."

Morosina's eyes flicker from her extended family, to Carina, and back around again as each one speaks, her smile never wavering. "I would like the record to show that I have expressed no desire to have the lady Antonella kiss anyone, and thus cannot possibly be a 'miscreant'. I am the soul of virtue and restraint, really." Which is why she is tapping the table, almost as if unable to help herself, as she watches Baldessare shuffle.

Tizania finds herself a seat, briefly reaching back to run her fingers over whatever part of her wife's body she can reach without looking. Whether or not that means she gets smacked… well that's okay! She flashes Carina a dazzling smile, and a tinkle of laughter, "Chiding? Of course not, if that is out of choice and not out of repression. A repressed soul is a terrible, terrible tragedy."

The Conte makes a good point and Carina shifts her chair a little so her cards remain private, even looking behind herself to make sure that there are no reflective surfaces. "There's something to say about being selective." A wry look on her features as she tosses that out for Tizania. She watches the cards being shuffled, much like Morosina, just waiting for them to be dealt.

Amanda patiently remove Tizania's hand from her body as she steps behind her wife. She lays both hands on the dark-haired woman's shoulders. "I will point out, Conte, that I would never encourage nor aid in /cheating/," she tells the man. "And… that… if I were to cheat?" she asks, as her fingers squeeze Tizania's shoulders. "I'd be more likely to encourage Tizania to lose. She is ever so beautiful when she scowls and pouts." A pause, then Amanda blinks. She looks to Morosina, then Carina. "Oh, goodness. Forgive me… does it bother you two as well? I can sit. I do not want to make anyone uncomfortable." Pause. "Excluding my wife and brother."

"How fortunate that you write your life as a comedy, then," Baldessare remarks to Tizania as he shuffles. He does so with a swift, experienced hand, and soon enough he's dealing out the first hand to the table before settling back in his seat to discreetly inspect his own cards. "I'm sure the Contessa will find you a credit to the family while you're in town, Signora," he adds belatedly to Morosina.

Tizania laughs a little bit more the sound like velvet. She leans ever so slightly toward Carina, smiling toward her. "Is that so? Selectiveness? But there are so many, many flowers and so many flavors to enjoy, lovely." She lifts a hand and runs her fingertips idly along her bared shoulder, and along the curve of her neck. "Selectiveness has its virtue, that is true, you wouldn't want a rotten peach. But why pass a strawberry if it presents itself to you?" A flick of her eyes is given to Baldessare and she says sweetly, "At least I am the author of my own life so that people find it enjoyable to be a part of, signore."

Morosina waves a careless hand towards Amanda. "I don't mind. It makes it more interesting…and if I lose money to Signora Tizania, it just goes back into the family coffers anyway." She scoops up the cards as they are dealt, and despite her words, she shields them with the practiced gestures of a gambler. She flashes a grin at Baldessare, her eyes widening slightly. "I do hope so. It shall be ever so much fun, I think."

"As long as you can't see my cards you don't bother me standing there." Carina clarifies, and since she'd moved her chair over some, she was comfortable where she was. As the cards are dealt, she rakes her own in and doesn't pick them up until he was finished. "Sometimes flowers are better to admire than to pluck, so you can admire then again." She's not a philosopher by any means.

It's really a good thing that Morosina is playing mostly against family, because her enthusiasm doesn't exactly translate into luck. She plays recklessly, and bets even more so. Which means Baldessare likely gets to save a good part of her traveling money from pouring into Carina's pockets. She hardly seems to notice, instead waving down a passing servant to bring wine.

"What, you aren't thrilled to be a part of my life, Tizania?" Baldessare asks her blandly. His gaze flits idly towards the curtains that separate the more risque areas of the house. "If you make variety your habit, Signora, you'll find yourself ill-equipped to handle a more selective indulgence." He reaches for his brandy to take a healthy swallow as they play through the game, seeming particularly sharp about his discards and his bets; he'll certainly end up with a good showing for the day.

"Why of course, my lord." says Tizzy to Baldessare, smiling sweetly at him. A chuckle is given and she says, "If you make selectiveness your habit, signore, you make it very difficult to deal with variety and are so easily lead astray by it." She flips over her cards, a rather poor hand indeed. She doesn't seem bothered by it, however, and instead says to Carina, "But there are so, so many flowers. If you never pluck any how can you truly enjoy them?"

"Oh, heavens…" Amanda says, her tone exasperated. "Can we at least stick to one lewd metaphor?" she asks. "Eating peaches, sniffing flowers, I can't hardly imagine what comes next, but I get lost in all this nonsense," she says.

Carina doesn't mind losing so much, and when the winnings go over to the Conte she dips her head, "Nicely done." The compliment hanging there as she taps her fingers lightly on the table. A look follows his to the curtain and she smirks at his return, turning her head to look at Tizania also, seemingly a touch amused by the comeback. "I go for a walk in the gardens to admire them, and then at the end of the day I go home to my peace and quiet."

Tizania's eyebrows pinch briefly and all at once she flicks her fingers, as is brushing a hand away from her shoulder. Her cards are tossed down, and she stands and swans out with another word.

Tizania has left.

"Would you rather us speak explicitly?" Baldessare asks Amanda. He doesn't /quite/ manage innocent, because he's simply not built for it, but that's clearly the idea. "I'm sure we can manage to oblige if you're in particular want." He dips his head in polite acknowledgment of Carina's compliment. His gaze lifts at Tizania's sudden departure, but other than an arched brow, he doesn't comment.

"The problem with variety is if you don't have standards, then it's no fun. Just grabbing a bunch of wildflowers from the behind the stables and tossing them into a jug…well, that's /nice/, but it's not going to thrill anyone," Morosina muses, staring into her mulled wine. "Now, taking the time to cultivate a bouquet of truly beautiful blossoms to enjoy when you want? That's fun. Takes time and work, but you get that warm glow of satisfaction." She blinks owlishly as Tizania storms out. Blink. Blink. A look is given to Amanda, enlightenment sought.

"The still wither if they are plucked and the beauty of them fades. You put them in a vase and soon enough you pass beside them without noticing their beauty at all anymore. You get used to them and even when they fade, they remain in the vase until someone comes along and throws them out." Carina doesn't mind using the flowers, and she agrees with Morosina for the most part. As the other lady leaves, she just looks bemused again, but doesn't ask. Scooping up the cards, she starts shuffling them this time, not really paying attention, just doing so absently as she listens to those around her. After several shuffles, ending on an odd number, she deals the hand.

Amanda's hands lift… and then rather suddenly her wife is leaving. Amanda looks briefly confused, turning to watch the woman go, then she looks back to the others. "Well. I'll beg you all forgive the… frivolities… of my beloved. She is an artist," she says. "I do believe she feels more than most of us," she says. And then Amanda is slipping Tizzy's vacated seat. "I'll take her place, if it eases this game any?"

"I don't know how far this particular metaphor can stretch," Baldessare says, tone going dry. "Few people actually wither once plucked." He watches idly as Carina shuffles, but for the smallest gesture of two fingers to Tizania's seat when Amanda slips into it. "As you like," he says. "I'm sure there have been particularly wealthy sorts who might take to games such as filling a salon with a gallery of their — bouquets," he says, humor smirkish. "Particularly wealthy and particularly bold, perhaps. It would allow the metaphor to stretch a bit further."

Morosina takes her cards as they're dealt with a cheerful nod to Carita. "Oh, Conte, we could take the metaphor a lot further if we wished. But it is not that the people wither once plucked, but interest naturally wanes once you see the same thing over and over again. You have to toss out the old regularly, make way for the new," she declares, breezily. Yes, she'll make a wonderful wife some day. "That is why the gallery of bouquets would be a lovely thing, don't you think? Put one away when it gets tiresome, bring another out for a while."

"Maybe." Carina tells him. "Don't you ever walk by something you used to think was beautiful and now you're blind to it? Just walking by and don't see it anymore? I wonder if it would be the same thing." A nod to Morosina before she is shrugging it off, and she concentrates on her cards just letting the matter drop for now.

"I am quite certain that certain flowers wilt," Amanda opines. "But this entire conversation seems trivial, at best. Could we not discuss shades of the sky, or quality of soil, or literally anything else?" she asks. "Is someone dealing?"

"Signora, it does sound like your cousin is ready to have a match arranged for her." Baldessare flashes a smirk towards Amanda before returning his attention to his cards. "Perhaps she can simply set them out to pasture when she tires of them." He looks down pointedly to the cards Carina has dealt.

Morosina continues to play as if she's wagering other people's money. Which, well, it could be argued that she is, and that's why the money flees from her. She flashes a grin at Baldessare. "Conte, I am, of course, delighted to do my duty for my family." A glance to Amanda. "Just make sure he can keep up, please. Or at least that he can be trained." Then she frowns down at the steadily decreasing pile of coins in front of her. "…goodness, did I lose that much? How?"

"Getting to rich for me." Whether that's true or not, Carina just gives a smirk and passes the deck along. "Deal me out this time. I have to find some sleep before I'm on duty again. It was indeed a pleasure meeting you. I hope your flowerbeds are plentiful and your vases hold only unwithered flowers." And to the Conte, "May your Salon remain filled with a gallery of bouquets." Amanda and Morosina both get a dip of her head, "Signora's, enjoy your game." And with that, excuses herself.

"If she lingers in Matora too long it will be quite necessary," Amanda says, to Baldessare. "Especially if she continues to… be herself," she says. Her smile goes a touch too sweet as she looks back to Morosina. "Glad to hear of your delight, cousin," she says. Her cards are flipped, but she hardly seems aware of what she's doing. "Good to meet you, miss. Do take care," she says, to Carina. Then it's back to the table. "Did I win?"

"There is only one flower to my bouquet, and that is the Contessa, my honored wife," Baldessare says rather firmly in reply to Carina. He offers her a polite inclination of his head in farewell, though, before she's gone. "No," he says, looking back to Amanda. "I believe I did, although not too impressively. "Have you a particular whim for a spouse, Morosina?"

Carina walks towards the door, her face scrunching a little at the mention of a spouse. She glances back only once before turning and leaving.

Carina leaves, heading towards the Dockside [Docks].

Carina has left.

"I was invited!" It's a yelp of protest from Morosina, and she casts a purely indignant look at both family members. "It isn't as if I just /wandered in/, you know." It was sort of totally like that, really, and less 'invited' than 'please take her'. Still, she finds the time to throw a sunny smile towards Carita, and say, "It was lovely talking gardens with you. Perhaps we shall do it again?" before looking back to Amanda's cards. She just sighs, and shakes her head. "At any rate, I hardly care. Although if he has a cracking good vineyard or two, that would be exciting."

"A beautiful flower that may well stab you should you refer to her as such," Amanda says, quite primly, to Baldessare. She looks back to Morosina. "We've little need for any matches to be made now. While that could change in an instant, I believe your… freedom… is safe. For now," she says, offering a sweet smile to her cousin. "Though do not get overly comfortable. One never knows when a Tizania might be sprang upon them. Your beautiful and brilliant cousin, the Contessa, move quickly when necessary and beneficial."

"It's more poetic than some of my other terms of endearment." Baldessare's lips curl into a close-mouthed smirk. "I imagine she'd find 'flower' downright tolerable." He actually snorts something like a laugh at Morosina's answer. "I'm sure we're all in want of a good vineyard or two."

Morosina gives Baldessare a solemn nod. "See, the Conte understands? A man's flower might wilt with age, but his grapes? Oh, they only grow the sweeter as the years pass." She grins, then reaches out for the cards, beginning to shuffle the next hand. "And I thank you, Signore, for the gift of my freedom. So too, I am certain, do the eligible matches of the city. And I am never /overly/ comfortable. I am always just exactly the right amount of comfortable, and I live to serve the Contessa."

"I cannot disagree," Amanda offers to her brother, with a faint dip of her head. Then she looks to Morosina, and oh how her face twists in distaste. "Please, spare me," she begs. A soft sigh comes out, then she just nods. "Well. Good. That… that this will not be a fight. As I said, I do not foresee the need for a marriage. Our largest dispute was settled… upon my marrying Tizania…" Sigh. "So let us hope there isn't another that rises to take it's place."

"She means rather /literal/ grapes this time, Amanda," Baldessare points out. "Not /everything/ is innuendo, now matter how dirty you try to make it." Amanda Capello: the naughty one. "A dispute-settling marriage rarely lasts between generations without heirs," he does point out mildly. "It's possible it will need to be reinforced down the line."

"It's as the Conte says, I'm sure," Morosina agrees, oh so solemnly, her head ducking down to hide a little grin as she pays such /very/ close attention to her shuffling of the deck. Then? Cards! Cards for everyone, dealt with great enthusiasm. "And it seems a good match, you and she, so that didn't work out so badly. At least, so I hope." A quick glance up towards Amanda, a keener study despite its swiftness than one might expect from her general breezy airs.

"Oh," Amanda says, as she eyes Baldessare. And yes, her look does go a bit sheepish. Her eyes trail up and away for a moment, until she can clear her throat, and sit a touch straighter. She looks back to Baldessare, oblivious to the card shuffling. She knows nothing of this game. "The dispute was between our parents. Neither Cosimo nor Amadea had any desire to stomach a feud over a simple business deal. It's all very… symbolic and little else. Let the histories show the dispute was formally settled. That's all," she says. Then she looks back to Morosina. "We are more happy than we are miserable," she says. That's… good?

"They're prolific fighters," Baldessare says of Amanda and Tizania without looking up from the cards he has lifted to inspect.

"But, happy or miserable, it's not /boring/. So, it's a good match," Morosina declares. "Could you imagine being stuck with someone who bores you for the rest of your life? Give me thrown crockery and screaming matches any day. At least those are exciting. And then, there's making up." An exaggerated waggle of her eyebrows at poor Amanda, while she takes a quick look at her cards, then carelessly throws in half her pile of coins.

"It is not boring," Amanda confirms, without reservation. Truer words about her marriage cannot be spoken. Amanda then lets out a soft sigh. "A boring marriage?" she asks. "One where, perhaps, I and my spouse could retire to our chambers, and both of us focus upon the work we've left to do? Or perhaps we can set upon reading, to prepare for tomorrow's work?" she asks. "It sounds divine," she admits, with a soft smile. Then her eyes fall to her cards. "… I've lost again, haven't I…"

"You're a rather terrible card player," Baldessare observes of Amanda's loss yet again. "At least the money's staying within the family, hm?" He quirks a brow at Morosina with a hint of amusement. "I imagine I'd have flung myself into the sea several years ago if I were in possession of a /boring/ marriage."

Morosina stares at Amanda in wide-eyed horror. "Oh. Oh, /dear/. Signora, we must do something about this. Reading and work? No, no, no. That is a waste of a night. You should come with me. We can discover every drink served in every halfway decent place in this city…and some of those that are /indecent/ in interesting ways. It will be /good/ for you," she declares. Then looks down at her cards, and makes a sound of pure delight. "Oh, look! There's my money again. I knew it would come home." Her pile grows, and she slides the cards over to Baldessare. "Quite right, Conte, quite right."

Amanda looks decidedly unsure how she should react to the realization that she's abysmal at cards. Proud to be bad at something so lacking in virtue? Upset to be bad at anything at all? The result is a contemplative frown as she stares at the cards. "It would appear so," she finally says, to Baldessare. Then she looks up to Morosina. Amanda stares for a moment, before she gives a soft laugh. "Oh, my darling cousin, there's no need to fret over that. What I describe is nothing remotely similar to my marriage," she says. "No, I have a creature that stalks me like a lion. Pounces upon me whenever she has a chance. A woman who takes it as her personal duty to draw pleasure out of-…" And then Amanda becomes aware of the words coming out of her mouth. Her eyes flash wide. Her cheeks flush. "Which is to say!" she says, a little too loudy. "I do not know anything of boring marriages as I do not have one whose turn is it to deal the cards?"

"You will become very aware of how very /not/ boring their marriage is after a few nights at the estate," Baldessare deadpans. "But yes, don't fret. In any event, I believe I am finished with my brandy for this evening and should be getting back." He does have to swallow that last mouthful /after/ he says as such, but then he's standing. "Signoras. I suppose I'll see you back at home."

Morosina's smile softens a bit at Amanda's frown. "I can teach you, if you like," she offers, cheerfully. And then Amanda goes on, and her eyes and smile both widens. "Well! That sounds lovely." As Baldessare rises, she does, as well, to offer a curtsy. "That also sounds lovely. And while this has been quite fun, I'm behind in finding places to enjoy, so I should probably go try a few others before dawn rolls around. It is wonderful to see you again, Conte, Signora. I am sure we shall have /great/ fun together!"

It would seem both her relatives are giving her a pass on that little… reveal. And Amanda is not ungrateful for it! She smiles, and stands. "If you wouldn't mind terribly, conte, I could use an escort out of this den of sin?" she asks. Never mind the bodyguard or two that are surely there to escort her. "There is a chance that my wife actually has something the matter, and I ought to see to it sooner rather than later," she says. Once standing, she'll seek Baldessare's arm. "Welcome back to Matora, cousin. Please do let me know if there is anything at all you might need," she says.

"Do try to keep down any racket when you make it back home," Baldessare requests of Morosina in a long-suffering sort of way. He allows Amanda his arm like a /gentleman/ before leading her away. Out of the den of sin!!